Auttaphol offered information on neighboring countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, which have been showing more interest. He said the local TAT office has been working with the Ho Chi Minh City tourism office in Vietnam, as well as with Qatar in the Middle East, to organize trips to Pattaya for travel agents and journalists.

In addition, he said, TAT has talked with relevant operators and agencies to organize road shows to introduce tourism destinations to Burmese tourists. He said these efforts should highlight Pattaya and Chonburi destinations.

Along those lines, club president, Wasan Temsiripong suggested the group add Wattanathum Village, Thai Thani retro-cultural and artistic town, and Cartoon Network Amazone’s water park to its roster of members.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday June 27, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 26).